Apparatus for continuous produce surface treatment

Abstract

Apparatus and method for removing material from the surface of fruits and vegetables (produce) and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture utilizes the rotation of an upwardly directed cage formed of elongated rotating spindles having a material removing surface thereon, the cage rotary speed being sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain the produce in continuous centrifugal force contact against the spindle material removing surface, but generally insufficient to prevent downward movement or migration of the produce within the cage under the force of gravity. Produce to be treated is urged into engagement with the spindles and the rotating cage causes the produce to accelerate substantially to said rotary speed, whereby the produce travels with the cage in contact with the rotating material removing spindle surfaces. The produce moves downwardly through the cage under the force of gravity, but is restrained from moving downwardly as fast as conditions would otherwise dictate by resisting surface contact against the lower portions of the produce, thereby increasing cage residence time. The resisting surface is displaced downwardly during cage rotation so as to control the descent of the produce downwardly through the cage during treatment. The removed material is continuously separated from the produce by centrifugal force which may be aided by air suction.

What is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for removing material from the surface of produce and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture of produce and removed material, comprising: (a) a housing forming a treating chamber and having an entrance and an exit for produce to be treated;   (b) an upwardly directed cage rotatably mounted in said housing and formed of elongated rotating spindles with a material removing surface thereon,   (c) means rotating said cage in said housing at a rotary speed sufficient, at the interior radius of said cage, to maintain produce in a circular path of rotation and in continuous centrifugal force contact against said material removing surface but insufficient to prevent downward movement of produce within said cage under the force of gravity,   (d) means associated with said housing for urging produce, from which material is to be removed, through said entrance and into said cage and into engagement with said spindles so that said produce is accelerated substantially to said rotary speed within said cage and said produce travels substantially at said rotary speed in contact with said material removing surface,   (e) a residence control member located at least partially within said cage and having a produce travel resisting upper surface thereon located near said interior radius and resisting said downward gravitational movement, thereby increasing the cage residence time of said produce,   (f) means moving said residence control member relative to said cage so as to functionally lower the position of said travel resisting surface, thereby permitting the lowering of said produce under the force of gravity and controlling the residence time of said produce in said cage, and   (g) means associated with said housing for directing treated produce through said exit.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said spindle material removing surface on certain of said spindles is formed of brush bristles.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: (a) said bristles are of varying length.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: (a) certain of said bristles are footed at the free ends thereof.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: (a) said bristles are of varying diameter.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: (a) certain of said bristles extend from said spindles at an angle from the radial.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: (a) certain of said bristles are enlarged at the free ends thereof.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: (a) certain of said bristles are of crinkly configuration.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said spindle material removing surface on certain of said spindles is cylindrical.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said spindle material removing surface on certain of said spindles is spiral in shape about the axis of the spindle.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein: (a) a pair of spindles having said spiral material removing surface are positioned adjacent each other with the respective spiral surfaces intermeshing.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including: (a) a cylindrical brush centrally mounted in said cage and having bristles extending substantially to said spindles.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said spindle material removing surface on certain of said spindles is formed of interlocked material having a cutting edge.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) certain of said spindles have a material removing surface which is different in shape from adjacent spindles.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said residence control member is an auger positioned in said cage.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein: (a) said auger comprises a smooth upper surface.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein: (a) said auger comprises brush flights.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein: (a) said brush flights slope downwardly and outwardly.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein: (a) said auger includes a hollow axle adapted for the introduction of liquids into said housing.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein: (a) said auger comprises flights having steps therein.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including: (a) prime mover means independently driving said cage sand said spindles and said residence control member.   
     
     
       22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including: (a) means driving said spindles in the same rotary direction.   
     
     
       23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein: (a) certain of said spindles are spiral in shape with adjacent spiral spindles being of opposite hand.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including: (a) means driving certain of said spindles in a rotary direction opposite to the rotary direction of other of said spindles.   
     
     
       25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein: (a) adjacent spindles are spiral in shape and of the same hand and rotate in the opposite direction.   
     
     
       26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein: (a) adjacent spindles rotate in opposite directions forming a cavity therebetween moving outwardly of said cage, and including   (b) a bumper bar in said cavity and positioned for limiting the depth produce may enter said cavity.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) certain of said spindles are brushes and   (b) an auger spindle is located between a pair of said spindle brushes and comprises said residence control member.   
     
     
       28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said residence control member and said spindles are the same element.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including: (a) duct means associated with said housing for withdrawing debris by air flow.   
     
     
       30. In a centrifugal produce processing apparatus: (a) an upwardly directed cage comprising circumferentially spaced, rotating treating spindles, frame means mounting said cage for rotation about an upwardly directed cage axis, drive means associated with said cage and rotating said cage at a speed sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain produce in a circular path of rotation and in continuous centrifugal force contact against said spindles but insufficient to prevent downward movement of produce within said cage under the force of gravity,   (b) a residence control member located at least partially within said cage and having a produce travel resisting upper surface positioned near said interior radius for contacting produce and resisting said downward gravitational movement of produce within said cage, and   (c) means moving said residence control member relative to said frame means so as to functionally lower the position of said travel resisting surface along said spindles, thereby permitting the lowering of produce under the force of gravity along said spindles and controlling the residence time of produce in said cage.